Venetian blind slat stiffening brace



y 4, 1960 A. s. HAISLIP 2,937,394

VENETIAN BLIND SLAT STIFFENING BRACE Filed Sept. 23, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 if H Y R P I H Albert S. Haislip INVENTOR.

44 I a I I3.

BY nu 15 May 24, 1960 2,937,394

A. S. HAISLIP VENE'I'IAN BLIND SLAT STIFFENING BRACE File ad Sept. 23, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.5

Albert S. Haislip mvmrox.

VENETIAN BLIND SLAT STIFFENING BRACE Albert S. Haislip, P.0. Box 186, Fredericksburg, Va.

Filed Sept. 23, 1958, Ser. No. 762,763 Claims. cl. -268) flexible slat may be reinforced or rigidified and so that the slats may be conveniently wiped off with a damp cloth one at a time and which is such in construction that both convex and concave surfaces of the slats may be wiped and cleaned.

Present day Venetian blinds are provided with highly flexible and bendable plastic or aluminium slats which when wiped with a hand cloth, such as is generally used,

twist, distort and become unruly and difiicult to handle" and clean. In addition, the lengthwise edges of the slats are often sharp and, unless extreme care is exercised, the hands are subjected to cuts. Time and again and rather than resort to cleaning a'blind while.

it remains hung and because the slats are limber and quite a nuisance to cope with, many housewives let the.

job go and eventually take the blind down and, as is customarily done, place it in a bathtub or the like for a bath. Without going into detail, this tub method of periodical washing and cleaning presents outdoors drying, and tape-shrinking and other difficulties and drawbacks. Confronted with the above and other varying aspects of the over-all problem, an accessible solution has now been worked out. vised a readily applicable and removable slat stiffener, or brace. Properly using it each slat, especially the flimsy end portions, may be temporarily reinforced and rigidified and brought under control, making it possible to readily wipe and clean the slat surfaces without difficulty and without having to take the blind down.

To achieve the results desired, a simple rigid slat-like stiffening brace is provided and, by holding and clamping the brace with the fingers of one hand against either the top or bottom surfaces of a blind slat, the latter becomes so stabilized that it resists bending from pressure and, enables the blind slat to be held firmly with one hand while the wiping cloth is easily applied and used with the other hand. As stated, the novel stiffening brace is best used in conjunction with the easily distortable end portions of each slat and to accomplish this the brace has a clearance locating notch at its central portion which straddles the usual ladder tapes, making it convenient for the user to learn, almost at once, how to go about using the brace and how best to obtain access to the concave and convex surfaces of the slats. The end por-' tions of the brace to the left and right of the central tape straddling notch may be selectively used as handles or ing description.

States Patent 0 It will be also noticed that the brace is wider than the slat, particularly the opposed confronting edges which border the ladder tapes clearance or straddling notch. Thus, said edges provide thrust abutments which, when forced orpressed against the contacted portions of the tapes causes said portions to flare or fold outwardly, thus wise inaccessible 'portions of the slats are rendered accessible for wiping and cleaning and the edge portions of the tapes are pushed out-of-the-way, so to speak, so that they will not be soiled by the wiping cloth coming into contact therewith.

The invention alsofeatures a lateral projection extending from the central notched portion in a direction toward the user and this projection has, an opening or space which may be utilized to accommodate either the left or right suspended cords, usually found on ya Venetian blind,

, so that these cords will not interfere with the slat wiping That is to say, I have de-.

bracing members all as will be clarified from the follow-"i and cleaning steps.

Experience has also shown that the space between a slat which is being wiped off and the next slat above it is limited and because of. this limited space the user of the brace might strike and cut her hand by the slat above, the area being worked on. Consequently it is another object of the invention to provide a bracket which takes; the form of a stay or prop and which is pivotally mounted, on the'brace and which may be swung down to an. out-of-the-way position when not in use and may be swung up to a supporting position when in use so that the slat above the one being wiped is lifted and tilted to an out-l of-the-way position.

Other objects, features, and advantageswill become, more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings v g In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed. to designate like parts throughout the views:

Fig. 1 is a view in prespective showing a fragmentary: portion of a conventional-type Venetian blind and show -i ing, in addition, the improved implement or brace illu-i strating the same in a useful position, showing the slat; hoisting stay or prop in its useful position, showing how the suspended cord to the right is hung on the brace'in an out-of-the-way position and illustrating other'features to be set forth later;

"Fig. 2 is a section taken on the plane of the line 2--2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 3 is a section on the vertical line 3--3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the implement or brace. by itself showing the slat propping bracket in its foldedi or'out-of-the-way position; i Fig. -5 is a view in perspective. showing how it is possi bleand practical to use the brace in a manner to facilitate cleaning of the underneath or concave side of avenetian 1'1 blind slat; c I Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing how the same brace or implement may be utilized to assist in wiping and; cleaning a ladder tape; and p Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing how one end of the brace may be used to exert pressure on edge portionsuof the tapes to flap the same back and to expose a portion of the slat for convenient cleaning. With reference to'the drawings, it will be clear tha Fig. 4 shows theimprovedimplement or stiffening brace by itself. The other figures I employ to illustrate'th'e various features and advantages of the invention and to impress upon a reader the versatile nature of such a simple implement.

With reference first to Fig. 4 it will be observed that the brace or implement itself is of slat-like form. It may be constructed from commercial plastics, from wood or other economical lightweight but rigid material. The brace may be said to be elongated. However, it is not nearly as long (see Fig. l) as the blind slats. However it is of a length proportional with the illustration seen in Fig. 1 and to this extent is elongated. It is formed centrally with a clearance notch which opens through what may be called the remote longitudinal edge. The provision of this notch and the connecting portion 12 which bridges the notch defines a left hand component or member 14 and a substantially duplicate right hand member or component 16. The edge portions of the notch 10, that is the portions which confront each other are provided with alined V-shaped cord accommodating seats 18. The portions on either side of each notch are shaped as shown and provide left hand abutments 20 and right hand abutments 22 which serve in a manner to be later described. The respective transverse end portions are also shaped as shown and each end portion has abutments to the left as denoted at 24 with an intervening V-shaped clearance seat 26. The abutments to the right are denoted at 28 and the V-shaped seat at 30. The median portion of the edge facing the user and seen in Fig. 4 is provided with an outstanding part which is here described as a projection 32. This in turn is centrally notched at 34 and the top surfaces of the projection on opposite sides of the notch are provided with grooves or channels 36.

The aforementioned slat lifting and retaining bracket is denoted by the numeral 38. This may be formed from a length of rigid wire or a rod of suitable gauge. This bracket may also be referred to as a stay and might further be equally well described as a pivotally mounted prop. This bracket is generally L-shaped in form and comprises a leg or arm 40 having an eye 42 pivotally mounted on a bolt 44 or screw threaded stud, which as shown in Fig. 3 serves to accommodate a nut 46 which holds a coil spring 48 in its desired position. The spring presses against the hinging' or pivoting eye 42 so that it is possible to tension the bracket so that it will stay up in the position seen in Fig. 1 or may be allowed to fold down or swing down to assume the collapsed outof-the-way position seen in Fig. 4. The short arm 50 of the bracket has a laterally directed terminal 52. This may be a simple lateral bend or it may be formed into a pigtail coil or eye. The purpose of the feature 52 is to engage an edge portion of the slats in the manner shown in Fig. 1 to assist in keeping the stay or bracket in its slat-elevating position.

Referring again to Fig. 1 a number of aspects of the mode of operation or use are sufficiently shown. In this figure it will be noticed for example that the aforementioned clearance opening or notch 34 in the projection 32 serves not only to accommodate the stud 44 and hinged end of the arm 40 but allows the suspended cords A to be accommodated in the manner shown and held in an out-of-the-way position. Experience has shown in using the device that often the cords A at the right in Fig. 1 would hang down and interfere with the step-by-step use of the invention. However by draping the cords over to be held in the out-of-the-way position it will be seen that they do not interfere with the operation of the invention. It might be stated here that the invention is usable of course on the left hand side of the blind (not shown) and here again other similar suspended cords (not shown) would be accommodated in the opening or notch 34. Persons familiar with Venetian blinds realize that the cord A may be the cord which is employed for raising and lowering the blind. The cord on the other side (not shown) is used for tilting .4 the slats. In any event this explanation furnishes the purpose for the projection 32 and the notch 34 therein.

With respect to the brace 14 as an entity and regardless of the other featured aspects it will be evident that this is novel because the notch 10 allows the brace to be positioned as shown with the ladder tapes B and C straddled thereby. In cleaning or wiping the slat, particularly the portions adjacent the ladder tapes it will be seen that the end portion D of the slat E is properly braced and reinforced by the portion 16 which underlies the end portion D. The other end portion 14 serves not only to brace the portion of the slat which is contacted thereby but serves primarily as a handle allowing the thumb and fingers to be positioned as shown and permitting the user to stabilize and clean first the portion of the slat E to the right of the ladder tapes and then she may shift the hand and catch hold of the portion 16 and clean to the left of the tapes.

It is also evident from Fig. 1 that the user may shift or slide the slat E along the surface of the brace thus accomplishing two things, that is, pushing the slat opening F to the right and bending the hoisting cord G and at the same time bringing the abutments 22 against the edge portions of the tapes causing the edge portions H to fold or flare outwardly. This tends to narrow the tapes for the moment and brings the slotted portion of the slat from its normally secluded position between the tapes so that this portion may be wiped and cleaned while portions of the tapes are held out of the way. This same operation can be accomplished on the other or left band edge portions of the tape by bringing the abutments 20 into play. In both instances the notches 18 serve to accommodate the bent cord G. It is also evident from Fig. 7 that the end abutments, say the abutments 28 serve a purpose like the abutments 20 and 22 since they are forced into thrust contact with the tapes to bend or flare the tapes outwardly. Here again V-shaped notches or pockets 26 and 30 serve to accommodate the cord means G.

With respect now to the aforementioned bracket 38 it will be seen that the novelty of this bracket is in a down or out-of-the-way collapsed position as depicted in Fig. 4. However when the invention is brought into use as seen in Fig. 1 it is desirable to swing the bracket up to the elevated position shown. As the bracket is caught hold of and swung up with the right hand while the device is held in position with the left hand, it will be evident that the short arm 50 wipes in a cam-like manner against the slat I which is the slat above the slat E which is being cleaned. The result is that the slat I is cammed up to an elevated and out-of-the-way position. Consequently sufficient space is now available between the slats E and J to facilitate wiping and to minimize the likelihood of the user cutting or raking her hand against the slat J.

As before stated the invention is of a diversified character and performs not only the functions and operations described, it may be also used in the manner seen in Fig. 5. With reference to this figure it will be seen that the invention is located so that the central notch 10 straddles the tape B and the half portions or components 14 and 16 are placed between the slat K, that is against the convex side so that the concave side L faces the user and may thus be wiped and cleaned in an obvious manner.

The purpose of Fig. 6 is to show again the versatile nature of the invention and from which it will be evident that by properly positioning the implement in the manner shown and in relation to the slats illustrated one may stiffen the otherwise flexible tape B and support it in such a way that step-by-step, the exterior surface of the tape may be cleaned.

Minor changes in shape, size, material and rearrangement of components may be resorted to in actual practice without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a rigid brace which may be conveniently and comfortably held by the thumb and fingers, or in any other convenient manner, in one hand with a portion thereof clamped firmly and pressed against a predetermined portion of either the topor bottom surface of a flexible Venetian blind slat and so that, in this manner, the cooperating portion of the slat is reinforced and rigidified, one end portion of said brace providing a grip, the other end portion functioning as a slat rigidifier so that the rigidified portion of the slat may be wiped with a cloth or the like, and means carried by said brace for elevating and retaining a portion of the slat above the one being cleaned in an out-of-the-way position, whereby to provide clearance and extra room for free use of a wiping cloth.

2. The structure defined in claim 1, and wherein said brace has a median portion which is notched, thus providing a pair of slat contacting members located on opposite sides of said notched portion, said members being coplanar with each other.

3. The structure defined in claim 1, and wherein said means comprises a bracket operatively mounted on said brace.

4. The structure defined in claim 3, and wherein said bracket is generally L-shaped and embodies a long arm pivotally mounted on an edge portion of the median part of said brace, and a short arm adapted to ride against an underneath side of the slat which is to be lifted and cleared to the aforementioned out-of-the-way position. I

5. For use while wiping the surfaces of a Venetian blind slat with a cloth or the like while the Venetian blind remains suspended with the slats open; a slat stiffening and holding brace adapted to be held by the users hand in a firm rigidifying position against a surface of either the top or bottom portion of said slat, an L-shaped slat lifting and supporting bracket having a long arm and a short arm, said short arm having a free end portion serving as a guard and assisting in holding the bracket in an operative position, said brace being provided on a centrally disposed portion with a stud, said long arm having an eye removably and hingedly mounted on said stud, and an adjustable spring encircling the stud and interposed between the eye and a retaining and tension adjusting nut on the screw threaded end portion of said stud.

6. For use while wiping and cleaning the surfaces of a flexible Venetian blind slat while the Venetian blind is suspended and the slats are open, a slat stiffening brace adapted to be held by the fingers of the users hand in a firm rigidifying contact against either the top or bottom surface of a portion of a selected slat, said brace embodying a pair of constantly coplanar slat bracing and stiffening components, the inner adjacent ends of said components being spaced apart a distance which allows the components to straddle the usual ladder tapes, and means rigidly joining the adjacent ends of said components, said means being offset and having a notch to permit either of the suspended cords on a Venetian blind to be located in the notch and held in an out-of-the-way position to facilitate use of the brace without interference by way of said suspended cords.

7; The structure defined in claim 6, and wherein said components are wider than the slat so that confronting portions of said inner ends may be forcibly pushed against vertical edge portions of said tapes in a manner to deflect the edge portions away from the portion of the slat normally situated between the tapes, whereby to enable the user to have access to portions of the slat normally rendered somewhat inaccessible by the tapes themselves.

8. The structure defined in claim 7, and wherein said inner ends are provided with alined V-shaped clearance pockets for a cord constituting a part of the ladder tape assembly.

9. For use while wiping and cleaning the surfaces of a V flexible Venetian blind slat, a stiffening brace embodying a pair of coplanar slat contacting members having opposed ends spaced apart to straddle the usual tape, the confronting edges of said notch having alined V-shaped cord accommodating pockets therein and being further provided with selectively usable tape-edge engaging abutments, the opposite end portions of said members being provided with abutments and intervening V-shaped pockets, an intermediate portion of one longitudinal edge of said brace opposite said notch having an extension and said extension itself being provided with a notch for cord accommodation and clearance purposes.

10. The structure defined in claim 9, and, in combination, an L-shaped bracket pivotally mounted on a median portion of said brace in general alinement with the first named notch, said bracket being foldable to a down outof-the-way position when not in use and swingable to an up top-forming position when in use.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,566,474 Woodbury Sept. 4, 1951 

